For many students and their families, being a doctor in India has long been a dream. The title “Dr.” has reputation, respect, and promises a steady career.
Still, the reality of today is somewhat different. Once thought of as a golden ticket to achievement, the MBBS degree is today fraught with difficulties that make it an unworkable option for many.
Pursuing an MBBS degree in India is no more fulfilling than it once was, from a severe lack of government positions to low pay in private hospitals to the soaring expenditures of private medical colleges.
Furthermore, Indian students studying medicine overseas deal with even more challenges like demanding tests and lengthy waiting times before they may work in their native tongue.
This post will look at the challenges MBBS graduates face now and why, for most students the path to becoming a doctor is no more worth the time, effort, and money invested.
1. Relatively Few Employment Prospectues for MBBS Graduates
Lack of career opportunities is one of the main issues MBBS graduates deal with nowadays. About 90,000 Indian medical college graduates annually, expecting to land steady employment.
Actually, though, government hospitals—which offer the most respected and safe employment—only have about 5,000 openings annually.
Only a tiny fraction of graduates receive a government position, hence the rest 85,000 either work in private hospitals or look for other professions.
As more MBBS graduates are expected year, competition for these few openings is getting more fierce. Many of the graduates so find themselves working in low-paying, high-stress situations with very little job stability.
Some are even compelled to seek greater possibilities by moving overseas or working non-clinical occupations.
2. Low Pay in Private Hospitals: Not Worth the Laborious Effort
Private hospitals come second for those MBBS graduates without a government position. Still, the pay and working conditions in private hospitals are quite unsatisfactory.
A lot of private hospitals pay MBBS graduates between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 every month. Doctors are expected to perform lengthy and demanding 10 to 12 hour shifts daily with minimal to no work-life balance in return.
From this standpoint, fresh engineering graduates in India typically pay more; entry-level IT positions pay ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 every month. By contrast, about seventy percent of Indian private hospital doctors make less than the beginning pay for a software developer.
Those who save lives— doctors—should be paid substantially more and given perks. But MBBS graduates find it difficult to obtain the financial stability they deserve as private institutions concentrate more on profits than on decent compensation.
3. The Sky-High Price of Medical Education: Designed only for the Rich
Although attending a government medical institution is the most reasonably priced choice, it also presents the most challenges.
With just over 50,000 MBBS seats in government colleges, students have to score highly on the NEET test to be admitted.
Private medical colleges are the sole other choice for individuals who fall short of the cut. But the expense of attending these universities is so great that most Indian households cannot pay.
An MBBS degree from a private Indian college might cost up to ₹1.5 crore overall.
Paying such a sum is almost unfeasible in a nation where the middle class family’s average annual income is between ₹5-6 lakh. Consequently,
only the richest students can afford to study medicine, hence the system is unjust for those who are gifted but lack means.
Middle-class students who still want to study MBBS may incur large loans, which causes years of financial strain once they graduate. Repayment of these loans becomes a significant difficulty considering the poor compensation in private hospitals.
4. Foreign Medical Graduates Deal Still More Difficulties
Particularly in Russia, Ukraine, China, and the Philippines, many Indian students unable of affording private medical colleges decide to study MBBS overseas.
These nations provide reasonably priced medical education, but returning students have great challenges.
Before they may work in India, Indian medical graduates from outside colleges must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE).
With a pass rate of just 15–20%, this exam is famously challenging. Many students take two to three years alone to meet the FMGE.
They have to finish a 2-3 year internship in India before they are qualified to work freely even after passing.
Foreign medical graduates so often find themselves waiting 4-6 years following degree completion before they can begin making income.
These challenges cause many foreign medical graduates to remain jobless for years and some to completely give up on their medical professions.
5. Extended Years of Research with Minimal Payback on Finance
Among the toughest degrees available in India, MBBS is also among the longest. Including a required one-year internship, it takes 5.5 years to finish.
Most graduates then have to complete a three-year MD/MS specialty in order to land a better-paying employment.
For people without a specialty, the likelihood of a decent pay is much reduced. Becoming a well-paid doctor can take eight to ten years overall, and even then many do not make as much as specialists in other disciplines.
On the other hand, an MBA graduate, chartered accountant, or engineer can start doing good within 3–5 years.
Many students find MBBS a financially foolish choice given the length of medical studies and meager pay.
6. Government Neglect and Unfit Working Conditions
The inadequate working environment, particularly in government institutions, are another main problem Indian doctors deal with.
Doctors who are overworked and underpaid must cope with demanding patient loads, inadequate medical infrastructure, and unpleasant surroundings.
India boasts just one doctor for every 1,500 people, significantly less than the WHO’s advised ratio of 1:1,000.
This scarcity strains current doctors greatly and makes their employment even more challenging.
Government measures also fall short in supporting MBBS graduates. While management, IT, and engineering sectors are always developing, the medical profession is stagnate with very little change in working conditions or pay.
7. The Strict Reality: MBBS Is Not Worth It
For many, the aspiration of being an Indian doctor has become a nightmare.
- There are just five thousand government hospital openings for more than 90,000 MBBS graduates.
- Two-thirds of private hospital doctors make less than the beginning pay for a software developer.
- Given private medical institutes charge up to ₹1.5 crore, most Indians cannot afford MBBS.
- Before they can practice in India, foreign medical graduates fight for 4–6 years.
For most students, MBBS is no more the ideal career choice considering these hard facts. Aspiring doctors will struggle until the government implements radical policies to raise wages, working conditions, and employment availability.
Students considering MBBS should give this decision much thought. Without the same financial and psychological load, other professions include engineering, management, and finance provide greater work-life balance, faster career progression, and higher pay.
Medicine should ultimately be a career pursued out of enthusiasm rather than only for financial stability or job security.
But MBBS is no longer the greatest choice in India nowadays for people seeking a fulfilling job.
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